County Promotes First African-American Woman to Fire Engineer | News

The Clark County Fire Department celebrated the promotion of the first African-American woman to county fire engineer, during a special ceremony Friday.

Jessica Osborne was promoted to engineer at a ceremony at Fire Station 18, which is a 575 East Flamingo Road.

She joined the department in December 2006. She spent most of her time as a paramedic and firefighter at Station 27.

"it was a long journey to want to become a firefighter. Basically, I was not really aware that women did this as a profession until i worked in one of the fire stations as a paramedic. One of the guys there encouraged me to try it," Osborne said.

The fire engineer is responsible for driving vehicles to emergency situations, bringing equipment and personnel to fires and setting up equipment at the scene.

The engineer is also responsible for connecting hoses, operating pumps and maintaining equipment when not in use.

“Jennifer exemplifies the professionalism and dedication to public service that is at the core of our department,” Fire Chief Bertral Washington said. “During Black History Month, her historic achievement is an inspiration and special reminder for all people that anything is possible with faith, hard work, and perseverance.”

Osborne credits the pioneering efforts of the first two African-Americans ever hired by the department for allowing her to move forward with her careeer.